Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Why are you telling me this?” My heart races as I watch him. Mass is beautiful in the reflected moonlight glow. He turns his stern and distant face toward me, and I wish I could read his emotions. But like always, he’s completely closed.
“My life is a constant battle. I’m not telling you this to complain. I enjoy the struggle. I feed on the pain. But I always have enemies. There are dozens of men who would happily cut my throat and take my place. There is one who could potentially do it.”
My eyes widen. “Someone’s as strong as you?”
“No, he isn’t, but he wants to be. His name is Medved. He was like me once. A young man from a very hard place. That hard place forced him into a sharp edge. Medved has wanted a Dragon position for as long as I can remember, and recently he turned this attention to me.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“So you understand. You are in danger. The moment I took you into my life, I exposed you to threats you will never fully understand. That’s why you’re here in the Fortress. This is the only place in the world where you’re safe. That’s why you aren’t allowed to leave. Out there, I can’t guarantee my enemies won’t hurt you.”
I let that slowly sink in. I knew he lived a dangerous and violent life, but I hadn’t fully connected that back to me.
I’m his wife now, and everyone knows it. Stepping into my dead fiancé’s place at my own wedding in front of dozens of people guaranteed the whole world would hear what happened.
If there’s one thing that constantly surprises me about hardened criminals, it’s how much they love to gossip.
But an even worse realization hits me.
“Rosie’s a target now too.”
He nods slowly. “That’s right.”
“You did that.” My eyes go wide as it rolls over me. “If you hadn’t married me, she’d be back in New York. She’d be safe.” I advance on him. I know it’s foolish, but I’m so angry I can’t think straight.
This selfish bastard put my daughter in danger.
She was fine before. But now she’s trapped on some crazy island with her psychopath biological father, and other vicious monsters want to hurt her just to get at him.
He turns to face me. “She was always in danger.”
“You bastard. You did this.” I ball my hands into fists and grit my teeth. “You could’ve left us alone. Nobody knew. Nobody was ever going to find out.”
“You’re wrong, Allie.”
I don’t hear him. I lash out blindly, swinging my fists at him. I don’t want to hurt him, but I do want to pound on his chest until he understands.
My daughter is more important than anything else in this world.
He catches my wrists and easily turns me. I slam against the glass with a sharp gasp. It’s cold against my back and arms as he pins me there, his monstrous body massive and powerful. I’m like a twig and he’s a hurricane. He could break me with the slightest twitch of his muscles.
His smell washes over me. We’re inches apart. His heat rolls against my skin. His breath is damp on my lips as he leans down into my face like a starving dire wolf.
“I saved our daughter’s life,” he whispers.
“Let go of me.”
“You have no idea what you’re doing, baby.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Dragons don’t get to keep secrets like Rosie. Someone would have put it together eventually, and if she weren’t under my protection, she’d be vulnerable. I took you and our daughter because I had no other choice.”
“Liar. Dragons have plenty of secrets. My father didn’t even know you’re the one who got me pregnant. If you had let me marry Salvatore—”
“And watch my woman and my child live with some weaker fucking man?” He snarls in my face. It’s the first sign of deep emotion he’s shown so far. “I couldn’t stand the thought.”
“This was never about Rosie’s safety.” I struggle to keep myself calm. A thrumming fills my core. His masculine power is oppressive and addictive. I remember the night we had together. How good it felt to give myself to him. The way he filled me, whispered to me, held me down with his massive, strong body, and fucked me until there was nothing left in the world but wanting more.
I haven’t been this close to a man since then.
“What was it about then?”
“You just wanted your little toy back.”
His head tilts. He looks surprised. Then he licks his lips and a darkness settles over his expression. “You think you’re my toy, baby?”
“I’m sure as hell not really your wife.”
“Oh, but you’re wrong. The Five Families all witnessed our vows. You signed the papers. You’re mine, Allie. And if you won’t be my queen, then you’re right, I’ll make you something else.”